There are houses built of stone, wood, and brick—and others built from tragedy, secrets, and the restless energy of those who never truly left. Across continents, time zones, and cultures, some homes have gained reputations that chill the spine. These are not just houses with history. These are places where the past bleeds into the present, where footsteps echo in empty halls, and where something unseen watches from the shadows.
Let’s step beyond the threshold and explore some of the world’s most famously haunted houses—and the bone-deep stories they carry within their walls.
- The Myrtles Plantation – Louisiana, USA
Widely regarded as one of the most haunted homes in America, the Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville is draped in Southern charm and ghostly lore. Built in 1796, it is said to sit atop an old Native American burial ground (a detail common in hauntings, and never reassuring).
The most famous ghost is Chloe, an enslaved woman who was allegedly punished and hanged after poisoning the family’s children—though some say she was framed. Her spirit is frequently spotted wearing a green turban, sometimes seen in photos or drifting through the halls. The plantation’s haunted mirror is also said to trap the souls of Sara Woodruff and her children, who reportedly appear in its reflection from time to time.
What Happens Inside: Apparitions in windows, handprints in the mirror, phantom footsteps, and cold drafts with no cause. Guests have even reported being touched or whispered to while sleeping.
- The Tower of London – England
A fortress, a prison, and a place of execution, the Tower of London is a ghost hunter’s dream—and a historian’s nightmare. The walls have seen centuries of betrayal, bloodshed, and royal scandal.
The most famous ghost? Anne Boleyn, the ill-fated second wife of Henry VIII. Beheaded in 1536, she’s been seen walking the tower’s corridors, clutching her own head under one arm. Other phantoms include the two young princes allegedly murdered by their uncle, Richard III, and the White Lady, who often waves from a window in the White Tower.
What Happens Inside: Sobbing in the dark, cold spots, strange smells, and ghostly figures in royal garb. Guards have reportedly fainted or fled after supernatural encounters.
- Monte Cristo Homestead – New South Wales, Australia
This brooding Victorian mansion is known as the most haunted house in Australia—and its dark past offers plenty of reasons why. The Crawley family, who built the home in 1884, suffered numerous tragedies: mysterious deaths, a maid who fell to her death (or was pushed), and a stable boy who burned to death in horrifying conditions.
What Happens Inside: Screams, sudden drops in temperature, and doors that slam on their own. Visitors have reported being scratched, pushed, or overwhelmed with nausea and dread.
- Château de Brissac – Loire Valley, France
This stunning château is home to La Dame Verte—the Green Lady—who was allegedly murdered by her husband in the 15th century after discovering her affair. Her ghost appears with hollow eye sockets and a blood-curdling moan, said to wander the tower rooms and chapel.
What Happens Inside: Guests claim to hear weeping at night, and many avoid the “Green Room” entirely. Locals say her presence is strongest around 3:00 a.m.—the so-called “witching hour.”
- The Winchester Mystery House – California, USA
This architectural oddity is famous not just for its spirits, but for the bizarre construction that’s rumored to have been guided by them. After the death of her husband and child, Sarah Winchester—heiress to the rifle fortune—believed she was cursed by the spirits of those killed by her family’s guns. So, she built. And built. For 38 years.
Staircases lead to nowhere. Doors open into walls. Secret passageways twist through the house. It was said to confuse angry ghosts and keep Sarah one step ahead.
What Happens Inside: Phantom footsteps, organ music, cold spots, and ghost sightings abound. Some believe the spirits were not only haunting her—but guiding her hand.
- Poveglia Island – Venice, Italy
This one isn’t just a haunted house—it’s an entire haunted island. Once used as a quarantine station for plague victims, then later as an asylum for the mentally ill, Poveglia is said to be cursed ground.
Thousands of people died here in misery, and according to legend, one of the asylum doctors went mad and threw himself from the bell tower—only to be claimed by the spirits he once tormented.
What Happens Inside: Although access is banned, locals report hearing the bell toll from the abandoned tower. Shadowy figures and cries are reported by fishermen who pass too close.
- Banff Springs Hotel – Alberta, Canada
This beautiful hotel nestled in the Canadian Rockies has been called “The Castle of the Rockies”—and like any good castle, it has its ghosts. Among them: a bride who died on the staircase before her wedding and still dances alone in the ballroom, and a porter named Sam who still helps guests to their rooms.
What Happens Inside: Guests report phantom luggage being carried, ghostly music in empty ballrooms, and cold patches that hover over the haunted staircase.
Why Are We So Drawn to Haunted Houses?
Because they are stories with unfinished endings. Homes are meant to be places of comfort, and when they become sites of sorrow or fear, the energy lingers like a question that’s never answered. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, these haunted houses remind us that some chapters are never fully closed.
Behind every creak of the floorboards and flicker of candlelight, there’s a memory trying to claw its way back into the present.
So next time you pass a crumbling mansion or a house with one too many windows boarded up… ask yourself:
What happened inside? And did it ever really stop?
